The Cheltenham Festival is over and an action-packed four days at Prestbury Park saw a few upsets, Irish dominance and a record-breaking week for Willie Mullins.
Irish veteran Mullins picked up three wins on day one, which left him just three short of a century, a feat he eventually reached in the final race on day two as son Patrick steered Jasmin De Vaux to victory in the Champion Bumper.
Friday was all about the Gold Cup, which was running for the 100th time, and, unsurprisingly, Galopin Des Champs came home for back-to-back victories in the event.
Now it’s over, our expert Ruby Walsh has given his Cheltenham 2024 verdict on our From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, which you can listen to in full below.
Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Festival 2024 review
On Willie Mullins breaking the century at Cheltenham…
“I thought he put it best himself ‘it was never a milestone or a target – it was something that you never thought was achievable. Who would ever have thought you could train 100 winners at the Cheltenham Festival?
“Amazing, amazing achievement and he’s worked from the bottom for it. Granted he started with the name Mullins but he has built the place around himself, built his owners, his staff, and all the horses. It’s incredible to go as far as he’s gone.
“It’s always about what’s next, what’s coming, it’s going forward and I think it’s incredible and I suppose like everything, people look back on it in time and they will say ‘wow, how did someone do that?
“At the moment, according to certain people, his domination is terrible for the sport, but when people look back on it in time and say ‘God, remember when Willie Mullins did that?”
On Galopin Des Champs winning a second Gold Cup…
“A much different race to the race last year, a much different ride, but ultimately the same result and it was a good ride.
“My heart was in my mouth now watching Fastorslow from the fourth last down to the home turn thinking ‘Where are you going to go, how does Paul get by you, go to you?
“I could see Gerri Colombe coming and you’re looking at L’Homme Presse in front on the inside and you’re thinking ‘Jeez where do you go now?’ It just worked out – a good jump at the second last, brilliant jump at the last, got himself to the line.
“He’s a very good horse – not as flashy maybe as last year’s performance, a bit more workmanlike but I’d say with the ground and the season he’s had, it was good to see him winning.”
On State Man winning the Champion Hurdle…
“It was a sprint wasn’t it really and I reckon Paul kind of surprised Willie with the way he rode him, but Paul thought he was riding the best horse and the fastest horse and he rode him like the fastest horse and that’s ultimately what won the race.
“He quickened well to beat Irish Point, Luccia kind of gave the Seven Barrows team a glimmer of hope and you were thinking ‘Wow could they, will they, might they, maybe’ Ultimately they didn’t but she’s run an absolute cracker and Zarak The Brave was well beaten in fourth.
“It was just get the job done – it’s what State Man generally does and it’s exactly what Paul Townend does. Just get it done.”
On Ballyburn winning the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle…
“Don’t think we need to delay too long here – he was exceptional. I loved Willie Mullins’ comments that if he has a horse maybe that could do a Dawn Run, he might try and do it with this fella if his owners are willing to do it.
“That sounds like it could be fun, but he just jumped, travelled and blew the opposition away.”
On El Fabiolo in the Queen Mother Champion Chase…
“Yeah I think he is [okay] – he was okay on Wednesday and he went home and was fine. All good, just missed the first, wasn’t great at the second, no wasn’t great at the third and then stood on his head at the fifth.
“He guessed and left his off fore on the take-off side and put his near fore out through it. He did the splits, belly on the floor and stood up at a standstill and I think quite rightly Paul Townend straightaway pulled him up.
“It’s do I keep going, will he be all right – if I stop now I’m definitely not going to do any more damage and hopefully he is all right. That’s a big call and Paul Townend made the right call.
“When you make a mistake like that, you need a miracle to win and you have to hope the horse is okay. If in doubt get out.”
On El Fabiolo in the Ryanair next year…
“His style of running would suggest not, he is quite keen so it will be interesting to see what happens down the line. You just have to stay in one piece – [you don’t move him out of the division] not for one mistake.”
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Lucky 15 Tips
Ruby and fellow panelist Rory Delargy gave a combined Lucky 15 for the Cheltenham Festival next year from the Grade 1s priced up currently priced up with antepost odds on paddypower.com.
Turner’s Novices’ Chase – Slade Steel
Queen Mother Champion Chase – Haddex Des Obeaux
Mares’ Hurdle – Jade De Grugy
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – Brighterdaysahead
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
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